News & Press

Editorial Earlier this month, six EU countries discussed the possibility of introducing a minimum price on pollution. A carbon floor price in Northern and Western Europe could accelerate the shift away from coal and create a tipping point for the phase-out of fossil fuels in other sectors and jurisdictions. An initiative by the Dutch environmental organisation WISE aims to…

The future aviation offsetting scheme will end up having little impact on the sector’s soaring emissions unless restrictions are applied on what kind of offset credits airlines can purchase, a new study has found. The study, commissioned by the German government, looked at the scenario where all offset credits from the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism…

The European Union has told the UN aviation body that it accepts the draft rules for the future global aviation offsetting scheme without changes but raises questions about the quality of offsets. Leaving the rules unchanged poses risks which include allowing in almost any offset with very limited oversight. The EU and its member states…

Editorial Europe’s carbon market reform for the next decade is a done deal, but while the EU’s pollution price has increased in recent weeks, prices are well below what’s needed to reach the Paris climate goals. Meaningful and rising carbon floor prices could provide the necessary push to phase out coal and encourage innovation. The Organisation for…

Aviation sector plans to address its massive climate impact by offsetting part of its emissions growth. Producing a respectable offset is becoming more and more difficult in a world where we are rapidly approaching our pollution limits. Below are some of the pitfalls the sector will have to avoid if the scheme is to have…

Editorial Happy 2018, a pivotal year for stepping up climate action The World Economic Forum’s latest Global Risk Report places climate change as the number one threat facing the world in 2018 – a hot topic at this year’s meeting of world leaders in Davos. Our message to the crowds gathered in the Alpine town:…

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is currently finalising the rules for its carbon offsetting scheme that will enter into force come January 1 of next year. Lack of transparency and possibly non-binding offset credit criteria risk undermining efforts to make the aviation sector do its fair share of climate action in order to limit…

Editorial The UN’s annual climate talks this year held in Bonn Germany saw moderate progress on implementing the Paris Agreement. However, critical questions on the functioning of future carbon markets remain wide open, making it impossible to assess if they will contribute to the fight against climate change. Meanwhile, the UN’s aviation body is drafting rules for…

BONN 14 November 2017. A new Columbia Law School report reveals major shortcomings in how the UN aviation body (ICAO) interprets transparency and public participation requirements. The report’s findings come amidst a closed meeting in Montreal that kick-starts the approval of rules for ICAO’s new carbon offsetting scheme. A separate Carbon Market Watch analysis on…

BRUSSELS 3 November 2017. The next round of UN climate talks takes place in Bonn from 6 to 17 November, under the Fijian Presidency, on how to implement the Paris climate deal. One open question is the role carbon markets will play in meeting global climate targets. Carbon Market Watch will be in Bonn to follow…